French Guerrilla Warfare and the Retaliation at…

French Guerrilla Warfare and the Retaliation at Limoges (1370)

By 1370, the Hundred Years' War had entered a new phase, as King Charles V of France adopted a new military strategy against the English. Rather than engaging in pitched battles, the French now encouraged revolts in English-held territories, launched ambushes and raids, conducted night attacks, and generally harassed English forces. This approach, spearheaded by Bertrand du Guesclin, proved highly effective in weakening English control in France.

In response, John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III of England, sought to match the military prestige of his elder brother, Edward, the Black Prince, who was increasingly incapacitated by a terminal illness. His most infamous action came in Limoges (1370), where he and the Black Prince retaliated against a French-backed revolt with a brutal sack of the city.

The Sack of Limoges (September 1370): The Black Prince’s Infamous Retaliation

• The Bishop of Limoges, Jean de Cros, a former ally of the Black Prince, betrayed English rule and surrendered the city to Charles V’s forces.
• This rebellion was part of France’s strategy of inciting unrest in English-controlled territories.
• In September 1370, John of Gaunt and the Black Prince, despite his illness, led a retaliatory attack, determined to make an example of the city.

Storming of the City

• The English forces mined the walls, creating a breach that allowed their troops to storm the city.
• After overwhelming the outnumbered French garrison, the English unleashed a massacre.
• According to Jean Froissart, over 3,000 residents were slaughtered in the aftermath.

Debate Over the Scale of the Massacre

• Jonathan Sumption, a modern historian of the war, disputes Froissart’s account, arguing that his figures are exaggerated and filled with imaginary details.
• A monk from St. Martial’s Abbey (a more contemporary local source) suggests:
  • Around 300 civilians were killed—approximately one-sixth of the city’s normal population.
  • 60 out of 140 garrison soldiers were also slain.

Regardless of the exact death toll, the sack of Limoges became infamous, staining the Black Prince’s legacy and illustrating the brutality of the renewed conflict.

Impact of the Sack of Limoges

• John of Gaunt’s attempt to prove himself as a great warrior only further alienated the French populace, fueling more resistance against English rule.
• The event hardened attitudes on both sides, making peace negotiations increasingly unlikely.
• The Black Prince’s health continued to deteriorate, and he returned to England in 1371, leaving John of Gaunt to take a leading role in the war.

The French adoption of guerrilla tactics and local revolts effectively undermined English control, while the massacre at Limoges (1370) became a symbol of English retaliation, marking the increasingly brutal nature of the conflict.